Beyond Self-Care: Medical Treatments to Help You Manage Blepharitis

If you’ve ever had swollen, puffy eyelids that couldn’t be explained by a long night of crying, you could have a condition called blepharitis. It’s not a particularly dangerous condition, but it can be very uncomfortable.

Blepharitis tends to be common and recurring. If you’ve ever had the problem once, you’re likely to get it again. Here, at Eye Q Optique with locations in Buffalo Grove and Chicago, Illinois, our team explains more about how to treat blepharitis.

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a term to describe a condition that causes the following symptoms:

  • Redness of the eyelids

  • Scaly or flaky debris that may be crusty

  • Thickening skin

  • Dry eyes

  • Excessive blinking

  • Feeling like you have something gritty in your eye

Sometimes, the scaly, crusty debris near your eyelashes may look like “eyelid dandruff.” You can get treatments that can help your eyes heal. Blepharitis may be linked to the meibomian glands, which produce the oils that lubricate your eyes; your eyes may produce more of these oils.

The two types of blepharitis

There are two types of blepharitis. We may take samples of the discharge that’s on your eyelids to help determine which type of blepharitis you have. 

Anterior blepharitis

This type of blepharitis is often characterized by a few symptoms and affects the front of your eyelids. Symptoms may include:

  • Acne rosacea

  • Allergies to things that you put near or in your eyes, such as eye drops or makeup

  • Seborrheic dermatitis (also known as dandruff)

  • Dry eyes

  • Lice or mites in your eyelashes

The anterior type of blepharitis is usually caused by bacteria, such as staphylococcus, or the overproduction of oils.

Posterior blepharitis

Posterior blepharitis affects the rear of your eyelids. This type of blepharitis can worsen dry eyes and lead to painful styes in your eyes.

How to treat blepharitis

Blepharitis is treated effectively by medicine, but it first needs an accurate diagnosis. Once diagnosed, you may be treated with one of the following medications:

Antibiotic ointments

Some cases of blepharitis are caused by bacteria, so we may prescribe antibiotic ointments to treat the infection. These ointments are usually erythromycin, bacitracin ophthalmic, or Polysporin®. If these treatments don’t work, you may have to follow up with a course of prescription oral antibiotics.

Anti-inflammatory medications

We may give your steroid eye drops to combat the infection. Steroids reduce inflammation and can be used in addition to antibiotics.

Immunomodulators

Some cases of blepharitis are particularly difficult to treat. In these cases, you may need immunomodulating medications, such as Restasis®. These medications block your body’s natural immune response, which may contribute to recurring infections.

Self-care at home

There’s no question: blepharitis is uncomfortable, even if you receive medical treatment. If you want to make your eyes more comfortable in the meantime, try these suggestions:

  • Put warm compresses over your eyes

  • Try to avoid touching your face as much as possible

  • Wipe away your tears with a tissue 

  • Wear glasses instead of contact lenses until the issue resolves

  • Remove your eye makeup every day

  • Replace your eye makeup to avoid reinfection

If you have blepharitis, you may find these tips more comfortable.

If you think that you might have blepharitis, you want to get checked out by an optometrist. Contact us at the nearest Eye Q Optique location or request an appointment online.

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